Farlows may not be a name known to all of you as they sell what they describe as 'country and outdoor sports clothing', much of it British made. They are also Royal Warrant holders to HRH The Prince of Wales as the suppliers of fishing tackle and waterproof outdoor clothing.
 |
| Wearing the Farlows Ventile Flint Field Coat |
I like quality outdoor clothes because they are made for a purpose. To be practical they have to be weatherproof and robust; poorly-made fashion items just won't cut the mustard. Style is also important too. Farlows' products achieve style by combining contemporary materials and design with the reassuring quality of a traditional garment that has survived the rigorous tests of time. These clothes have been worn outdoors by people who accept no lapse in quality because their comfort and lives depend on products that perform as claimed.
Brand Manager, Peter Sant, accepts these product characteristics as a given, as he told me when I met him recently. He's also enthusiastic about British manufacture. After all, Britain has led the world in the design of outdoor clothing since it started to ski, climb mountains and explore the remotest reaches of the globe in the nineteenth century and our love for country pursuits has only fuelled the demand for clothing that works well in The Great Outdoors.
 |
| Farlows Wellington top coat |
The collection uses Ventile, proofed tweeds and dry wax, where needed reinforced with alcantara, Ventile and modern waterproof membranes. I was sent one of the new collection's jackets to try. The Farlows Flint Ventile Cotton Shooter Jacket is British-made and its quality and details are impressive.
The Flint fits very well; the sleeves are a good length and the shirt cuff enables them to be closed snugly. Good sleeve length is essential whether you're shooting, fishing or simply walking your dog in the heavy rain. My initial thought was that it needed hand-warmer pockets, but that's exactly what the chest pockets are designed for, as their cosy lining demonstrates. Naturally there are poacher pockets and an internal zipped pocket for secure stowage.
 |
| Farlows Flint Ventile Field Coat |
My overall impression was that a great deal of thought had gone into the design of the Flint. The field coat is a shape that has been well-tried (the similarity to the Grenfell Shooter is no coincidence). I'm a lover of the Shooter and own three Grenfell examples, two vintage and one modern. The Flint has had the advantage of being redesigned from scratch while the Grenfell is based on an original and ageing design. This, with its superior build quality, gives the Farlows jacket the edge, helped by details like drain holes in pockets, a robust zip, quality buttons and a full cotton lining.
I wore the Flint in some of the heaviest rain I've experienced. A little leaked down my neck (my fault for not wearing a scarf and no fault of the excellent collar design) but the Ventile remained waterproof without becoming too heavy and inflexible. I'm a great user of Ventile for all but the most extreme mountain walking.
 |
| I tested the Falows Flint Field Coat in very heavy rain and the Ventile remained dry and comfortable |
The Flint is a very versatile jacket and suitable for milder days or, layered with knitwear or modern performance clothes, the coldest winter days. I'm getting a lot of use from mine as I wear jackets of this sort in preference to modern waterproof hardshells: I prefer the use of natural materials, the muted colours and their comfort and quietness over man-made fabrics. Ventile also seems to improve in appearance and comfort as it wears.
When you're off the hill or out of the woods and back in the city it goes well with a roll neck, jeans and loafers or suede derbies to make a fashionable town coat.
See Farlows website for more information.
The jacket was gifted, otherwise this is an unsponsored feature. I only feature products I like and would wear myself.
Comments: Please note that I have now disabled comments on my blog because of the huge volume of spam. However, I welcome and encourage discussion on my Instagram feed where you can leave your thoughts and queries and where I will respond as soon as I can.
